Worker dies after joke goes too far

Dubai: A joke that went too far has led to a mechanic and a construction worker being accused of causing the death of a co-worker.

In the April incident, the 34-year-old Bangladeshi mechanic was poking fun at the deceased when the latter got angry and assaulted him.

The 34-year-old hit him back and they exchanged blows before the 22-year-old Pakistani construction worker intervened to stop the fight.

In the ensuing melee, the victim lost his balance and fell down and the Pakistani fell on him.

Seeing the victim having breathing difficulties, the mechanic and worker called an ambulance. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Dubai Police’s forensic examiner confirmed that the victim suffered a cardiac arrest caused by low rate of potassium in his blood aside from psychological and physiological pressure.

Police apprehended the mechanic and worker.

According to the charge-sheet, prosecutors said the Bangladeshi suspect punched the victim on different parts of his body and the Pakistani suspect fell over him while trying to stop the fight. Prosecutors said the suspects caused the victim’s death without intending to do so.

The two suspects pleaded not guilty before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Monday.

“The other suspect fought with the victim and I intervened to stop the fight … I did not cause his death,” the Pakistani suspect told presiding judge Urfan Omar.

A policeman claimed to prosecutors that the incident happened at 3.30pm at the site in the Business Bay area.

“The incident happened at the 25th floor of a building under construction. Upon confronting the 34-year-old suspect, he claimed that he was joking with the victim verbally and physically before he got angry and assaulted him.

"He claimed that he assaulted him back and they exchanged blows before the 22-year-old suspect intervened and stopped them. The Bangladeshi suspect alleged that the victim tripped and fell down on the concrete floor and the Pakistani fell over him,” he testified to prosecutors.

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